Travis Knight’s KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS

A movie review by Dennis D. McDonald

Had I seen this movie when I was a child it might have given me nightmares. Never mind the gorgeously animated monsters. The image of the two spectral witch-sisters floating threateningly through the air might have stopped my heart.

An overwhelming sense of magical beauty pervades KUBO as our young hero sets out to retrieve his destiny. While such fictional quests are a dime a dozen, KUBO populates the story with stunning animation, entertaining personalities, and a surprisingly dark family backstory.

That backstory might worry some parents about childhood sensitivities; despite the scares I wouldn't worry. While the story elements might seem familiar to some, the execution is intelligent, epic, and sensitive, and with just enough added humor for variety. Plus, there are imaginative wonders aplenty; just watch Kubo bring his paper figures to life!

An added bonus is that KUBO, despite being American-made (Laika) may introduce some young people to the richness of Japanese folklore and culture. While the English language soundtrack and the mostly “white” voice cast might turn off some racially-intense viewers, if KUBO stimulates interest in "foreign" cultures, count that as a major and positive outcome.

Review copyright (c) 2017 by Dennis D. McDonald. For more reviews like this scroll down. To find out about my consulting go here.